Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - October 5, 2026, 05 PM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - October 5, 2026, 05 PM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch. I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we
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  Speaker 1: examine critical developments including a major political party's adoption of
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  Speaker 1: an antisemitic resolution, escalating concerns on European campuses, and the
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  Speaker 1: online spread of dangerous conspiracy theories. We're also launching Antisemitism Watch, Mid-Atlantic,
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  Speaker 1: providing focused coverage from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and
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  Speaker 1: the Philadelphia region. Visit clockworkmedia.org slash m-a. In the United Kingdom,
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  Speaker 1: the Green Party passed a motion yesterday declaring, Zionism is racism.
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  Speaker 1: A move met with widespread condemnation from across the political
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  Speaker 1: and religious spectrum, ijwishphilanthropy.com and lbc.co.uk report. The resolution, passed
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  Speaker 1: by a vote of 1,022 to 813 at the party's
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  Speaker 1: annual convention, also affirmed support for Palestinian violence against Israel.
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  Speaker 1: British Jews, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mervis, and the Israeli
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  Speaker 1: government have all decried the motion, with the Israeli government
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  Speaker 1: calling the party an organization that supports terror. Critics, including
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  Speaker 1: Labour Against Antisemitism director Alex Hearn, stated that adopting such
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  Speaker 1: a slogan mirrors the trajectory that led to antisemitism tearing
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  Speaker 1: apart the Labour Party. The motion also drew concern as
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  Speaker 1: a clause to protect Jewish members from discipline and for
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  Speaker 1: belonging to Zionist synagogues, was voted down. This action is
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  Speaker 1: seen by opponents as institutionalizing antisemitism within the party. On
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  Speaker 1: university campuses across Europe, Jewish students continue to face significant challenges.
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  Speaker 1: According to UN Watch reporting, European universities are struggling to
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  Speaker 1: protect students from harassment, intimidation, exclusion, and severe physical violence
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  Speaker 1: in the wake of the October 7th massacres. Hannah Valer,
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  Speaker 1: president of the European Union of Jewish Students, highlighted these
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  Speaker 1: issues at a UN Human Rights Council event, explaining that
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  Speaker 1: while political debate about Israel and the Middle East is legitimate,
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  Speaker 1: it too often crosses into discrimination and harassment targeting Jewish students.
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  Speaker 1: In New York City, the public school system is investigating
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  Speaker 1: a teacher for reportedly praising the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
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  Speaker 1: JTA reported on this development. which underscores concerns about political
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  Speaker 1: statements and conduct within educational institutions. Online, conspiracy theories and
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  Speaker 1: anti-Semitic tropes spread rapidly following a recent FlyJubyJet incident. JTA
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  Speaker 1: reports that within hours of the plane, sending a distress signal,
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  Speaker 1: social media saw claims of a false flag operation and
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  Speaker 1: accusations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu staged the event
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  Speaker 1: for political survival or to garner sympathy. The Combat Antisemitism
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  Speaker 1: Movement's Antisemitism Research Center documented thousands of hostile posts and
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  Speaker 1: millions of views. Noting the speed of activation suggests organized efforts.
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  Speaker 1: In Germany, accusations of antisemitism carry substantial weight, with the
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  Speaker 1: potential to end careers and impact political alliances. Forward.com examined
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  Speaker 1: this evolving discourse, noting that since the October 7th attacks,
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  Speaker 1: and the ensuing war in Gaza defining antisemitism, has become complex.
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  Speaker 1: The article points to instances like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's
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  Speaker 1: recent comments and the debate surrounding the left-wing Die Linke
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  Speaker 1: party's potential to govern, with the party facing accusations of
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  Speaker 1: systemic antisemitism, and representing the elimination of Israel from some critics,
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  Speaker 1: despite official party resolutions condemning antisemitism. In legal outcomes, a
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  Speaker 1: Kuwaiti man has been sentenced to life in prison with
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  Speaker 1: a minimum term of 20 years. Aljamina reported that Abdullah al-Badri, 34,
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  Speaker 1: was convicted on Monday, October 5, 2026, of preparing an
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  Speaker 1: act of terrorism. He had attempted to breach Israel's embassy
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  Speaker 1: in London in April 2025, armed with two knives and
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  Speaker 1: a martyrdom note, motivated by revenge for Israel's actions in Gaza.
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  Speaker 1: On the policy front, U.S., Special Envoy to Monitor and
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  Speaker 1: Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaplan, detailed the administration's global approach.
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  Speaker 1: Speaking at the Washington Foreign Press Center, State.gov reported that
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  Speaker 1: Ambassador Kaplan highlighted efforts such as working with the Saudi
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  Speaker 1: government to change its curriculum and revigorating hate crime prosecutions.
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  Speaker 1: He also noted that multiple Latin American countries, including the
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  Speaker 1: Dominican Republic, Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Chile, are
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  Speaker 1: considering adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism. In K-12 education,
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  Speaker 1: the superintendent of Township High School District 113 in Illinois,
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  Speaker 1: Chala Holland, has warned families of a deeply concerning pattern
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  Speaker 1: of hate crimes occurring in schools. ChicagoTribune.com reports that this
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  Speaker 1: pattern includes multiple incidents of antisemitism, racism, and anti-gay slurs
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  Speaker 1: observed over recent weeks. Actress Selma Blair announced she is
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  Speaker 1: making a documentary titled Hindney about antisemitism. Aljamina reports that
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  Speaker 1: Blair spoke about the professional fallout she experienced in Hollywood
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  Speaker 1: after a controversial social media comment in February 2024, which
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  Speaker 1: she stated led to her losing her talent agency, brand deals,
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  Speaker 1: and other professional support. In Pennsylvania, a state Senate hearing
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  Speaker 1: was held by the Senate Majority Policy Committee focusing on
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  Speaker 1: the issue of antisemitism in schools. According to jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com, Assemblyman
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  Speaker 1: Ari Brown of New York highlighted an incident in Sederhurst
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  Speaker 1: where an attendant at a gas station was arrested for
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  Speaker 1: alleged verbal sexual harassment and inappropriate physical touching of young
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  Speaker 1: Orthodox girls. 5towncentral. com reported the arrest and subsequent assurance from
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  Speaker 1: the business owner that the employee would be terminated. with
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  Speaker 1: the Assemblymen calling for community strength and cooperation with law enforcement. Finally,
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  Speaker 1: in positive developments, the Anti-Defamation League is marking its 32nd
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  Speaker 1: year of the Spotlight on Hope, Artists Fighting Hate event.
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  Speaker 1: As detailed on the ADL site, this initiative brings together
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  Speaker 1: artists and advocates to celebrate champions who reject hate and antisemitism,
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  Speaker 1: underscoring the power of creativity and unity in combating these ideologies.
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  Speaker 1: I'm Rachel Adler. Thank you for listening to Antisemitism Watch.
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  Speaker 1: For focused coverage from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and
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  Speaker 1: the Philadelphia region, listen to Antisemitism Watch. MidAtlantic at ClockworkMedia.org.ma.
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  Speaker 1: Follow Antisemitism Watch in your podcast app so you don't
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  Speaker 1: miss the next update. This report was generated with AI
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  Speaker 1: assistance and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify important details with
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  Speaker 1: primary sources. Thank you.